The SFIC dilemma.

[WestCoastPicks]

So recently I have been getting into SFIC stuff. As we all know it's not cheap. But I have found MANY cases where you can get them cheap.. when they don't have keys and sometimes still in the hardware.

The dilemma I have is. I can get a whack of sfic cores less than 2 months old in great shape for a song and a dance. But there are no keys. Many deals like this.

Do you think it's worth buying these at a way discounted price, but resignin yourself to picking them each to control (not keyed alike) and re-pinning every lock? Or should I just wait to find a better deal where they are all keyed alike...

This is my hobby and I am doing this for the experience and practical knowledge so I am leaning towards getting them. But man that's a lot of work.

[Joshua904]

I've heard sometimes you can get lucky and get one that rakes to control easier than operating.
So maybe some of those cheap deals work out for ya.



I have yet to experience this luck.

[cledry]

A lot of locksmiths discard SFIC cores so you should be able to pick them up less keys for very little if you can become friendly with one in your area.

[jeffmoss26]

if you don't have the pin kit, tools, and a machine to make the keys, it gets even more expensive
if you are just looking for picking practice then it's a different story.

[averagejoe]

Hmm, I can help you with keys and eve repinning them. Are they all in housings or just loose cores? What keyway are they? What is the price per core? Any pictures?

I have all the stuff to work on SFIC on hand.

[WestCoastPicks]

Hmm, I can help you with keys and eve repinning them. Are they all in housings or just loose cores? What keyway are they? What is the price per core? Any pictures?

I have all the stuff to work on SFIC on hand.

They can be $10 each. They are in the hardware (Stanley push button combo door handles with sfic in the handle) 10 of them. He wants 1000 for all of it but will take 100 for the cores if I get them out.

I can't walk away with all the stuff I'd have to do it there. They are all keyed different. So even if I wanted to make a control key for one, it wouldn't work on the others.

This question is more about the general problem of getting g sfic without keys. Most locksmiths I talk to don't sell much used stuff. Most of them are put off by the fact that I do this for a hobby and most of them wouldn't give me a deal if I was their best friend. So I can't count on someone feeling nice and giving me a break.

I can pay and will pay. I just want the best deal possible. A hand full of different sfic cores with both keys is what I want to end up with.

[averagejoe]

Seems like you are getting the short end of the stick on that deal. You have to get the cores out yourself and then pay for them and the guy keeps the lockset and charge more for it.

If you picked the cores out and got to keep them for free it might be worth it since you are doing all the work. Otherwise he will probably try to drill out the core and lose every one of them.

I don't have a whole lot of spare cores on hand since I sold most of them with my training sets but I will dig around and see what I can find.

[WestCoastPicks]

Seems like you are getting the short end of the stick on that deal. You have to get the cores out yourself and then pay for them and the guy keeps the lockset and charge more for it.

If you picked the cores out and got to keep them for free it might be worth it since you are doing all the work. Otherwise he will probably try to drill out the core and lose every one of them.

I don't have a whole lot of spare cores on hand since I sold most of them with my training sets but I will dig around and see what I can find.

That's what I thought. They are almost worthless with keyless cores stuck in them. But unfortunately craigslist people don't see it like that. I would pay 10 bucks each to sit there and try to pick/rake out all those cores.

I'll probably wait for a better deal.. or just get a lot off eBay.
If you do find any around you're willing to sell off let me know.

[MatrixBlackRock]

They can be $10 each. They are in the hardware (Stanley push button combo door handles with sfic in the handle) 10 of them. He wants 1000 for all of it but will take 100 for the cores if I get them out.

$10 for cores in place without keys is way over priced.

I have bought BEST padlocks with cores and keys for as little as $12 off e-bay and at $15-$19 you can get them all day long.

Wayne

[cledry]

They can be $10 each. They are in the hardware (Stanley push button combo door handles with sfic in the handle) 10 of them. He wants 1000 for all of it but will take 100 for the cores if I get them out.

$10 for cores in place without keys is way over priced.

I have bought BEST padlocks with cores and keys for as little as $12 off e-bay and at $15-$19 you can get them all day long.

Wayne

Your deals are really good, I think $12 is pretty exceptional for the padlock with keys. Just for reference, list price on a keyed core with 2 keys and a control key is about $40. So if you can get a core with keys for $10 - $15 I think it is fair, without keys I would say $5 unless it is an unusual keyway. "A" keyway being the most common in my area.

[Joshua904]

Ive used this guy before on ebay, don't personally know him. I bought some used best cores, keyed alike with 1 control key for when I do manage to pick my other ebay special padlocks open to control.


http://www.ebay.com/usr/papa777

[MatrixBlackRock]

Ive used this guy before on ebay, don't personally know him. I bought some used best cores, keyed alike with 1 control key for when I do manage to pick my other ebay special padlocks open to control.


http://www.ebay.com/usr/papa777

That's Tim Monte and he's one of the best on BEST on e-bay.

Wayne

[hdp160]

I would suggest you buy a couple and see how you get on... decide later if you want to buy a box full.

[jeffmoss26]

Ive used this guy before on ebay, don't personally know him. I bought some used best cores, keyed alike with 1 control key for when I do manage to pick my other ebay special padlocks open to control.


http://www.ebay.com/usr/papa777

That's Tim Monte and he's one of the best on BEST on e-bay.

Wayne

I see what you did there. Tim has helped me out a lot over the years.

[WestCoastPicks]

Ive used this guy before on ebay, don't personally know him. I bought some used best cores, keyed alike with 1 control key for when I do manage to pick my other ebay special padlocks open to control.


http://www.ebay.com/usr/papa777

That's Tim Monte and he's one of the best on BEST on e-bay.

Wayne

I see what you did there. Tim has helped me out a lot over the years.

Funny you should say that. I just ordered one from him last night. Lol